Angela Mulvey knows exactly how you feel.
She was a consumer who tried just about every anti-aging product—some of them very expensive—and she couldn’t find what she was looking for.
She eventually created her own line, along the way, discovered some of the secrets that the global giants in the business used to formulate and market their products. She thought consumers might like to know about how to tell the bad products from the good ones.
“It can be very confusing, and a very expensive education, if you are trying to find a product that works for you,” she said. “The fact is, we are all like butterflies. We’re all different. Men and women who are looking for anti-aging solutions can sometimes be swayed by clever marketing, but we should all remember that there is no one-brand-fits-all product. What works for me may not work for you, but the dividing lines between something that could work and something that won’t can be invisible for those who haven’t done the research. I’ve done the research for myself, and I’ve learned a lot.”
Angela’s tips include:
- Look for High Concentration of Active Ingredients — Many products on the market will tout they have the highest concentration of active ingredients in their formula, but it’s not always so. I recommend a 3% to 4% concentration, as compared to the products that contain a 1% or 2% concentration. When used over a long period of time, the higher percentage concentrations typically deliver the better results.
- Make sure the product does not contain Paraben — Paraben is a preservative used commonly in many cosmetics, and for a long time it was thought to be an effective ingredient to keep a product fresh. However, many recent studies suggest that Paraben could play a role in allergic reactions, hormonal imbalances and even breast cancer. A Paraben-free cream is just safer, in my opinion.
- Look for Specific Ingredients — Read the label before you buy, and scan for ingredients like Fiflow BTX, Snap-8 and Leuphasyl, which represent some of the more recent scientifically-proven anti-aging compounds. Also look for Swiss apple stem cells, a new anti-aging compound that has been used by First Lady Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez, and credited with helping them both look younger.
- Don’t Be Sold by a Pretty Package — Many anti-aging products are expensive not because of the quality or amount of product you buy, but because of the packaging. Angela, a veteran graphic designer, knows her way around package design, so she was able to use less expensive recycled materials to give her line a pretty package without the high cost associated with it. Her advice is to remember that you’re not buying a package—you’re buying something to make you look and feel younger.
“It doesn’t have to be expensive to work,” Angela added. “Whatever choice you make, examine what it is you are getting in return for the price you are paying. If it works, then you’ve got a winner. If it doesn’t, really examine the next product you buy. Ask questions at the cosmetics counter and don’t let the salesperson push you into buying something you’re not convinced will work. It may take a little trial and error, but if you adhere to these tips, your chances of finding something that works for you will be better.”
Angela Mulvey is the CEO of U and I Cosmetics (http://www.uandicosmetics.com/)
